Tow-hook for steam-tugs



T. NAGEL. Tow HooK FORSTEAM TuGs.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I4, |920.

UNITED STATES THIES NAGEL, OF HAMBURG, GERMANY.

TOW-HOOK FOR STEAM-TUGS.

Application filed October 14, 1920.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, THms NAGEL, a citizen Th of the German Republic, and residing at Hamburg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tow- Hooks for Steam-Tugs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved towhook for steam-tugs, in which means are provided for allowing an automatic slipping d of the tow-line at a lifting of the tow-hook caused by a too high inclination of the steamtug, which means may also be hand-operated.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a side view of the improved tow-hook, Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line A-B of Fig. 1, Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views, the former with removed top wall of the casing. Y

The casing of the improved tow-hook is formed of two plates a and transverse mem'- bers b and c, which are connected by rivets d. Between said plates, the known guiding and holding roller f, the pivotal pawls g, and the hook holder it, are slidably located. The latter is at its rear end provided with toothlike notches and carries at its top and bottom an abutment z', which abutments slide in slots le of the upper and lower walls a of the casing and prevent the holder from being wholly withdrawn from the casing. The hook Z, which is turnable in a perpendicular plane and mounted in the forked front end of the holder 7L, terminates at its rear in an incline lm. which is to bear upon a similar incline of the holder 7L. The hook Z carries a lower extension 1/ to which a flexible steel rope a is attached, the latter being suspended from the casing and having a certain play in the position of rest of the hook while it is stretched with slipped tow-line (as shown by the dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1) and thus allows a quick and easy. slipping of the tow-line. In the position of use, the hook end extends somewhat into the interior of the casing. The teeth of the pawls g engaging in the toothlike notches of the hook holder h are so arranged and designed that, upon the free pawl ends being liberated from the sleeve n, the pawls are, by the pull of the tow-line, moved directly into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, so that the hook holder and with the same'the hook move out of the casing and, owing to the rear hook end issuing then from the casing, the hook can turn down. For limiting the oscillatory outward movement of the pawls Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1921. Serial No. 417,067.

g, abutments o project from the casinff. e sleeve n is by a link p of adjustabIe length connected with a lever g, which is turnably mounted on the casing. Said lever g bears, with lifted tow-hook, against an abutment 1^ fixed on the steam-tug and eifects thus a displacement of the sleeve n and a slipping of the hook. The adjustment of the length of the link p may be effected, even uring use of the tow-hook, by means of a detachable cotter s engaging in one of a series of holes in said link.

To allow a manipulatory slipping of the hook, a lever u is turnably located at t on the casing and connected with the link p by a connection-rod o. By a pull on a rope 'w connected with said lever u, the sleeve n can also be displaced and the hook caused to slip. spring intervening between said lever u and the turning-axle of the abutment-lever g is to prevent the sleeve from being displaced unintentionally.

It must be noted that modifications of the construction and dimensions of the different parts of the tow-hook are obvious without departing from the essence of the present invention.

What I claim, is

l. In a tow-hook for steam-tugs, in combination, a casing, a hook holder slidably arranged in the front end of said casing and having toothlike notches at its rear end, pawls engaging in said notches and located to swing outward for a liberation of said hook holder, a sleeve engaging over the free ends of said pawls, a link of adjustable length pivoted to said sleeve, an abutmentlever pivotally connected with the other end of said link and located to be operated upon the tow-hook being lifted at the event of a too high inclination of the steam-tug, and a hook on said hook holder to slip upon operation of said abutment-lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a tow-hook of the type specified in claim 1, a hand-operated lever in connection with said sleeve, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THIES NAGEL. Witnesses FRIEDRICH LUNoW, ERNER HAMER. 

